Council approves $998,000 engineering contract for 7th Street project and passes budget amendments restoring sidewalk plowing

Grand Haven — The City Council on Monday approved a roughly $998,000 engineering-services proposal for the 7th Street reconstruction and streetscape project and adopted a series of fiscal-year 2025–26 budget amendments that include restoring sidewalk plowing.

City staff said the $998,000 fee represents about 13.5% of the project total and is consistent with past engineering fees for complex infrastructure work. Ashley (city staff) introduced the item; staff noted Avon Marsh Consultants Inc (consultant named in the packet; transcript alternately lists Abbot/Abernathy Marsh in places) is the engineer of record and recommended moving forward with the firm while the city coordinates design with the CenterTown vision plan.

Council members stressed the importance of coordination with other planned work and property owners on aesthetic and technical design decisions. One councilmember asked staff to keep the contracting arrangement flexible so concerns raised at public meetings can be incorporated.

On the budget amendments, Finance Director Emily Green told council the package moves funds across multiple funds with no net change to the general fund. Notable changes include a $35,000 transfer from a DPW miscellaneous public-improvement line into local streets/motor pool funds to pay for sidewalk plowing. Green said the increase in a brownfield redevelopment fund is the result of billed third-party reviews that are expected to be reimbursed when projects conclude; the airport fund includes MDOT-required tree trimming expenses.

Council members supported restoring sidewalk plowing while reiterating that property owners retain the primary legal responsibility to clear sidewalks. The motion to adopt the budget amendments passed on roll call.

What’s next: Staff will finalize the engineering contract with Avon Marsh and coordinate design work across city projects; finance staff will implement the budget transfers and monitor reimbursements tied to the brownfield fund.